Skid.



W. A. CAMPBELL.

SKID.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.15. 1908.

962,81 5. Patented June 28, 1910.

WILLIAM A'. CAMPBELL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SKID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 15, 1908.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Serial No. 410,962.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. CAMP- BELL, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, 'in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates o saw-mill machinery, and pertains particularly to skids therefor.

The object of my invention is to provide a powerful, direct-connected fluid-pressure operated skid, and to provide a resiliently mounted, easily controlled device.

The invention consists of the parts, and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

I have here shown the skid as applied to a saw-mill carriage A having head-blocks 2 which may be adjusted to suit logs of various sizes.

The skid-operating mechanism is located in convenient relation to the usual log-deck upon which the logs are brought down to be deposited upon the carriage, which may be retracted by suitable mechanism to a point opposite the log deck in position to receive the logs.

Logs are directed from the log-deck 3 over my improved skids A upon the carriage A, and against the rollers 5, mounted in the head-blocks 2, which so reduce the friction of turning the log that much wear and tear of the mill apparatus is avoided.

I have found by long experience that it is desirable to provide means whereby the log in turning over on the carriage may be checked in its final movement by a resiliently mounted cushion-like skid, and it is also advantageous to lock the carriage mechanism at the moment the log is elevated by the skids preparatory to its being deposited upon the carriage. To this end the skids A have their ends which are nearest the carriage, slidably supported between the flanges of inclined guides 6, so that when the skids are advanced toward the carriage these ends will be sufficiently elevated to permit logs to be readily pushed onto the carriage (see Fig. 2). The opposite ends of the skids A are connected by perforations 7 with short-radius wrist-pins 8 secured in levers 9 fixed upon line shafts 10 which extend parallel with the carriage A, and may be continuous.

Secured upon each shaft 10 are operating levers 11 having at their outer ends connections with piston-rods 12 of pressure-actuated pistons of cylinders 13.

By admitting steam, or other fluid, to the cylinder 13, the skids may be elevated or depressed at will by the rocking of the shafts 10.

By my construction of skids, levers and inclined planes, small engines and little power are required to safely and expeditiously handle the logs.

By slotting the skid beams and allowing them to rest upon the concentric hub 1A of levers 9, the longitudinal reciprocation of the skid does not materially raise the end adjacent to the log deck 3, and further, weight of the load is not imposed upon the pin 8, but upon the stronger hub 1A and shaft 10 which is well supported by journalboxes 15.

When a log has been deposited upon the skids A from the log deck 3, by admitting pressure above the pistons in cylinders 13, the several levers 11 will rock their respective shafts 10, and thrust forward the skids so that the outer ends will be uplifted by the bearing inclines or guides 6, as shown.

Should a log, after it has been pushed from the skids onto the carriage, be turned over axially it will fall upon the elevated skids and these would be forced backwardly and downwardly on the guides 6, and the connected wrist-pins S would transmit the shock to the pressure-supported piston rods 12, thus materially cushioning the shock of the falling log.

In order to prevent movement of the carriage A while pressure is being admitted into the cylinders 13, I provide suitable interlocking means of substantially the following arrangement:

A rocker-shaft 16, suitably located so as to be protected from the logs and extending parallel with the carriage to the sawyers cage, is provided with a foot-lever 17, or the equivalent, whereby it may be rocked. Also fixed to the shaft 16 are arms 18 connected to suitable valves 19 adapted to control the admission of pressure to the cylinders 13.

The shaft 16 extends preferably close to the sawyers carriage-operating lever 20, and carries an arm 21 connected to a complementary arm 22 secured upon a countershaft 23 carrying a keeper 24: adapted to engage the lower end of the handle 20.

If it is desired to elevate the skids 4, the operator depresses the foot-lever 17, rocking the shaft 16, and opening the valves 19 to admit pressure fluid to the cylinders 13, and simultaneously rocking the countershaft 23, carrying the keeper 24; into mesh with the lever 20, thus preventing its being moved to shift the carriage A while the skids are in action.

IVhat- I claim is 1. In a sawmill, a log carriage, a logdeck, lifting and advancing skids contiguous to the carriage, and means whereby said skids are resiliently supported.

2. In a sawmill, a log-deck, a shiftable carriage, and cushioned, transversely movable, lifting skids contiguous to the carriage.

3. In a sawmill, a log-deck, a movable carriage, substantially horizontal skids adapted to receive logs from the deck, fixed inclined guides supporting the free ends of the skids, wrist-pins connected to the opposite ends of the skids, and means for actuating the Wrist-pins, said means being adapted to cushion the skids when subjected to shocks.

4. In a sawmill, the combination with a log-deck and a movable carriage, of cushioned skids, inclined planes upon which the free ends are movable, and lifting arms or levers with which the opposite ends are connected, means, including an engine, for operating said levers, means controlling the admission of fluid to said engine, and means operable in conjunction with said controlling means adapted to prevent the movement of the log carriage.

5. In a saw-mill, a log deck'and a movable carriage, skids adjacent to the log-deck, fixed inclined planes supporting the free ends of the skids, means positively connected to the opposite ends of the skids whereby said skids may be reciprocated, and meansv including a motor for operating said last mentioned means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM A. CAMPBELL.

Vitnesses:

C. A. PENFIELD, S. H. NOURSE. 

